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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Toyota Pickups
Last Friday I got my new company truck. It's a Toyota Tacoma 4x4 double cab like David K has, even same color, silver. 4L engine, 5 speed auto. I
spent time over the weekend putting about 250 miles on it to make sure it was OK before pulling a 5,000lb trailer with snowcat into the 7500 ft snow
packed mountains this week.
I really love the power of the engine, a heck of an improvement over my 1993 3L daily driver. The tranny is extremely smooth. Overall I'm very happy.
There are a few things I don't like or would like better. The lack of an overhead hand grip on the passenger side. The lack of an auto-dimming rear
view mirror, maybe that's an option, I don't know. I don't like the wide drivers side armrest where the electric door locks and window buttons are, my
knee lays against it and I think going off road it might be a problem bouncing around. In the center console is a cup or can holder behind the shifter
which is really nice but two would have been much better. Forward of the shifter is a two cup holder with a real mickey mouse divider. The holder is
really too wide for a normal cup or can and when moved it's too small to hold anything. The radio is OK but the features are not as good as my 04 GMC.
Last and I'm being picky here. I don't like the red or near red night lighting on the dash instruments. I don't think they are nearly as good, again
as my GMC. I have a hard time reading the temp and compass at a glance.
Give me another week or two or more and I may change my tune on some or all of the above.
Also Saturdays paper had a good write up on the new Toyota Tundra truck. It will be available in Bakersfield in February as I assume the rest of the
country.
Merry Christmas to all, mine is.
[Edited on 12-18-2006 by TW]
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tengo Flojera
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What??????? only one "oh sh-t!" handle on the passenger side!!!!
That is THE most important passenger side feature..
I to just traded up from a '93 3.0 ltr. engine in my old t-100, to a '02 V8 tundra 4X4.....OH WHAT A FEELING IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT!!!
funny, my '02 Tundra has two "Oh Sh-t!" handles on the passenger side,happily..
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
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Oh what a feeling!
TW - we have found a few of the things you've mentioned also but after 6 months and 12,000 miles - we've been very happy!
John M
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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TW, the daul cup holders in front of the shifter that seem way too big are ADJUSTABLE! Just pull on that piece in there and it adjusts to fit any
cup... At least that's the way it works in my Tacoma...
Both the driver and passemger have grab bars... but I think they are more to aid in getting in and out?
My negatives are the soft rear suspension (bottoms out with passengers in the back seat while hitting bump, at speed) and (only on the first pads), an
intermittent squeel coming from the front right brake they couldn't get rid of. Also, the mud flaps... First time they got mudded (Laguna Salada mud,
mind you) the weight of the mud pulled 3 of them off!
The positives naturally outweigh the negatives and my truck which is 1 year and 4 months old has 45,000 miles on it now... No mechanical problems, no
breakdowns...
[Edited on 12-18-2006 by David K]
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Frank
Senior Nomad
Posts: 861
Registered: 6-5-2005
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Is it time to leave yet?
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What kind of mileage are you getting on average? Lets say 4 people, some luggage and a full tank of gas.
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
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DK,
Have you looked into Super Springs? Their product should solve your problems when loaded for a reasonable price, and not affect the soft suspension
(desirable) when the truck is light.
Ken
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I put 250 miles on it Sat and Sun and used 12.7 gal gas, that's about 19.7 mpg. Just me in the truck on a run down to Tehachapi, around town on
errands and over to I-5 and Panama Lane (hwy43) area where the new 1/2 mile NASCAR race track will be built in 2007. Another nit picky thing is the
steering wheel does not tilt as far down without losing the top of the speedometer like my other trucks. I like a more vertical wheel. This one lays
at more of an angle and reminds me of Roger Mears in his class 7 truck. I am interested as to how much hitch drop I'll have when I hook up the snow
cat.
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Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
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Mood: Happy!
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Only complaint I had with my old 1992 Toyota was the lousy turning radius...my brother-in-law had the same problem with his 2004 Tundra. Has that
been fixed?
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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Mine seems to turn fairly tight. I would have to turn the same turn in my 93 and this one to really compare. I just ran over to the airport and I must
say the power is surprising, the acceleration was great. I did notice as I was getting in the truck that there was no light around the key entry on
the steering column, another nit picky thing, but no big deal. David K is probably thinking I'm a real nit picker. But it rides really good, something
most trucks don't do down hwy 99. The seat is comfortable, as least the drivers side. The seat belt retracks good, something my 93 doesn't do, never
did. Steering is tight compared to the GMC. There is no tranny dip stick. Take it to the dealer at 100,000 miles. It has a 400 watt AC outlet near the
tailgate for the blender. Funny my GMC has a tranny dip stick but no radiator cap.
[Edited on 12-19-2006 by TW]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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It has a tighter turn than my '01 2 door Tacoma... That's great...
My milage varies from 16-20 MPG
Thanks for the super springs tip... I will check into that... Where in San Diego County do I go to check it out?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I'm waiting to test drive a 2007 Tundra............
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Dipstick
I too was somewhat puzzled at no ability to check the transmission fluid level. I was kinda wondering what happens if ya get a slight leak; it would
be pretty tough to add fluid (if that is even possible) without knowing how much to add.
I believe that is one thing I'll look into one day soon.
As for mileage - when the gauge gets low we add gasoline. Never tried to figure it out, doesn't matter much at this point, I got years and years to
pay for the darn thing and gas mileage is just one of the issues I've given up thinking about.
John M
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Frank
Senior Nomad
Posts: 861
Registered: 6-5-2005
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Is it time to leave yet?
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I hear ya about the mileage John. There wasnt enough of a mileage difference 16-20 vs 12-18 on my F350 CC Diesel to push me over the edge. I do like
those Toyotas though!
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tripledigitken
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4848
Registered: 9-27-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
It has a tighter turn than my '01 2 door Tacoma... That's great...
My milage varies from 16-20 MPG
Thanks for the super springs tip... I will check into that... Where in San Diego County do I go to check it out? |
DK,
4 Wheel Parts in El Cajon 619/447-2457 handles them. When I was there a month ago they had a sample spring you could see.
I have the same situation with my 2005 Xterra Off Road. Rides like a car with just the two of us, but when loaded offroad it will bottom out. I will
be installing the SS's myself before my next camping trip.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I was just by there last weekend... I will stop in and see. Many thanks!
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1921
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Offline
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Auto trans service
Curious about servicing I called our locat Toyota dealer, Valley Hi Toyota in Victorville.
The service advisor who answered the phone said this - "oh you live in the high desert, Toyota considers the high desert as an 'extreme driving
environment,' and that means you should service the transmission at 15,000 miles."
I asked why extreme environment and he says because of the temperature variations here on the desert.
He said the trans is sealed and should be serviced by the dealer only (naturally). He said they drain and refill from the bottom of the pan, under
pressure.
Cost - $70.00 - they must not change torque converter fluid - if there is one - sounds too cheap for that.
Anyone have any similar dealer responses?
John M
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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John they should be able to connect into the lines that go to the radiator or cooler and circulate and replace all the oil which is about 10 qts+/-.
Some maybe most of the oil change places offer that service. I think someone on Nomads or maybe I read it somewhere that a TV station in SD or LA
investigated a quicky lube type chain and found they were not changing the oil as they said they were, especially the tranny fluid. They had hidden
cameras on the vehicle. I assume one could just drop the pan to change the fluid in it, I used to do that on my chevy before I put a drain plug in it.
Would need to measure how much fluid came out.
I should add that it would mostly be a benefit to add a dip stick tube when the pan is off.
[Edited on 12-20-2006 by TW]
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
Member Is Offline
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Well I must take back my statement about the mickey mouse forward cup holder. After really looking at it there are two arms that rachet out to hold
the cup in place. So take one nit picky thing off the list. Went up to our lower mountain site today, 3000ft on Mt Adelaide. It's a one lane paved
road but fairly steep climb. No problems. I do like the rear diff locking switch. My 93 has a positraction rear diff and on turns the inside wheel
always wants to spin. On this truck I left it off and what a difference on the switchbacks.
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Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3512
Registered: 8-27-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by TW
Also Saturdays paper had a good write up on the new Toyota Tundra truck. It will be available in Bakersfield in February as I assume the rest of the
country.
[Edited on 12-18-2006 by TW] |
TW: Unfortunately for BKRSFLD, the rest of the country already has them...... heh, heh
BHS
Class of '69
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64855
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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John... don't skip the recommended services! The truck is a 30,000 dollar gem... so treat it right and have the dealer do the services.
Toyota Carlsbad/Oceanside has reasonable prices in my opinion so I have them do all the servicing. An oil change is only $22 and if I don't want to
wait they will drive me home (5 mi.) and pick me up... free. The 30, 60, and 90K mile services are pricey... But when the truck does everything you
want and won't break down on you or cause you expensive repairs after the warantee, it will be worth it!
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